Explosive ordnance launching and actuation arrangement



Oct. 1, 1968 R. H. FosLER ETAL 3,403,624

EXPLOSIVE ORDNANCE LAUNCHING AND ACTUATION ARRANGEMENT Filed April 20, 1967 Fig.

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Edward W. RoHman 9 ATToR Y AGENT United States Patent O 3,403,624 EXPLOSIVE ORDNANCE LAUNCHING AND ACTUATION ARRANGEMENT Robert H. Fosler, Baltimore, and Edward W. Rollman,

Cockeysville, Md., assignors, by mesne assignments, to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy Filed Apr. 20, 1967, Ser. No. 634,035

ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE An explosive ordnance launching and actuating device providing a bore riding feature within the launch tube to prevent actuation of the ordnance device, even if the safety pin is removed, until the ordnance device is completely ejected from the launch tube.

Background of the invention The invention relates generally to launched explosive ordnance devices and more particularly to an ordnance device and launching system therefor having positive interlocking safety features to preclude inadvertent detonation of the associated ordnance device.

The present invention is concerned primarily with an anti-personnel type ordnance device such as a mine, wherein upon actuation the ordnance device is launched some `distance into the air and there detonated to disperse its explosive force. Inherent in such devices is the requirement for easy ejectability and actuation.

Prior are devices utilizing actuation devices to eject and arm an ordnance device such as an anti-personnel mine have suffered from the lack of effective safety me-asures to preclude inadvertent actuation or arming of the mine device. Necessarily, mines of an 4anti-personnel nature must be limited in size and thus complex safety devices are prohibitive. Further, since mines of the antipersonnel type are deployed to be actuated at some indeterminate future time it is desirable to make the actuator and accompanying safety devices as simple and uncomplex as possible to increase reliability and yet satisfy needs for effectiveness.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved launching and actuation arrangement for an antipersonnel ordnance device of a simple and reliable design.

Another object is to provide a mine launching and actuation arrangement incorporating interlocking safety features.

A further object is to provide a novel launcher for an expiosive ordnance device.

Summary of the invention Briefly, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, these and other objects are obtained by providing a cylindrical container to house the mine and the actuation means wherein the cylindrical container coopcrates with a bore rider arm on the mine to prohibit actuation of the mine until the mine has been completely ejected from the cylindrical housing. The mine carries a further safety feature in that it has a tiring pin that is not removed until the mine begins its movement in the housing.

Brief description of the drawing Other objects and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily appreciated as the same become better understood by reference to the following `detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

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FIG. 1a is a view, partly in section, along a longitudinal axis of the mine prior to actuation;

FIG. lb is a view, partly in section, similar to FIG. la but on a longitudinal axis disposed 90 from the axis of FIG. la;

FIG. 2a is a view along the same axis as in FIG. la showing the mine in a first state of actuation;

FIG. 2b is a view taken along the same axis as FIG. lb and showing the same state of actuation as FIG. 2a;

FIG. 3a is a view along the same axis as FIGS. 1a and 2a showing the mine in an intermediate stage of actuation;

FIG. 3b is a view along the same axis as FIGS. lb and 2b and showing the same stage of actuation as FIG. 3a; and,

FIG. 4 is a view showing the mine in a final stage of actuation.

Description of the preferred embodiment Referring now to the drawing, wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views there is shown in FIGS. la and 1b an explosive ordnance launching and actuation device having a main housing 12, enclosing a piston 14 that is slidably disposed within housing 12 and an ordnance device, such as a mine or the like, 16, slidably disposed within piston 14. The rnain housing 12 includes a substantially straight cylindrical side wall 18 with an internal annular flange 20 located slightly above the bottom wall 22 0f the housing to provide a stopping surface for the sliding piston 14 above the bottom wall 22. The piston 14 includes a substantially straight cylindrical wall 24 having an external diameter less than the internal diameter of the housing side wall 18. The piston Wall 24 has arranged on its external circumference a series of built -up rings 26 that have an external diameter only slightly less than the internal diameter of the -main housing 12 to provide a sliding tit between the piston and the housing. The lower portion of side wall 18 and the bottom wall 22 along with bottom wall 28 of the piston, where it abuts the stopping ange 20 of the housing, forms a propellant chamber 30. A propellant charge 32 is disposed in the chamber 30, is suitably connected to an initiating means (not shown) and provides the ejecting force to initiate the piston movement and ultimately actuation and detonation of the mine 16.

The mine 16 may be any type ordnance item desired and is fuzed with a conventional hand grenade fuze 34 of a well known type with a safety pin 36, pull ring 38 and spring urged ring lever 40 such that when the safety pin is removed the fuze is armed and when the lever is allowed to spring outward the fuze is activated.

The fuze 34 is located on a central axis of the mine 16 and is placed within the piston 14 such that the pull ring 38 is initially located adjacent an opening 42 in the piston wall Z4. A lanyard 44 is affixed to the pull ring and extends through opening 42 and secured at its other end to the interior portion of housing wall 18 such that -any upward movement of the piston within the housing will cause the lanyard to pull the safety pin 36 from the fuze.

It is to be understood that the lanyard 44 may also be extended through housing wall 18 and secured to the outside surface and still function in the desired manner.

The ring lever 40 is shaped to extend radially outward from the mine 16 through an opening 46 in piston wall 24 and then is shaped to extend downward along the side of the piston wall 24 such that it abuts against housing lwall 18 and is forced to remain in the inactive non-firing position. Thus even though the firing pin 36 may be removed the fuze 34 cannot be completely activated until the mine 16 clears the housing 12 and the 3 firing lever 40 is allowed to spring outward and actuate the fuze.

The mine 16 is further equipped with a launching charge 48 that is activated by the fuze 34 before the main explosive charge -of the mine so that whenthe piston 14 is ejected from the housing 12 and the fuze has detonated the activation charge in the mine is initiated first expelling the rnine from the piston and then when the rnine is clear the main explosive charge is initiated.

A device of the character described finds use as an anti-personnel mine on land or in water where it is particularly useful to eject a submerged mine up to the level of a pier above the water before detonation.

In operation the mine is initially unarmed as shown in FIGS. 1a and lb. Upon activation by either a contact means or some remote activation method the propellant charge 32 is ignited as shown in FIGS. 2a an-d 2b causing the piston 14 t-o rise within the housing 12 and the lanyard 44 to pul'l the safety pin 36 from `the fuze. The mine cannot be detonated as yet since the firing lever 40 is constrained from any movement as it is riding in the bore of the housing 12. When the mine and piston reach the position shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b the mine has cleared the housing 12 and the firing lever 40 is free to spring outward thus actuating the fuze. The actuated fuze causes the launching charge within the mine to ignite and as shown in FIG. 4 the mine is expelled from the piston and then at a predetermined time thereafter the main explosive charge is detonated.

Obviously, numerous modifications and variations -of the present invention are possible in view of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.

We claim:

1. Ordnance apparatus comprising:

a first housing having a first generally cylindrical elongate cavity therein;

a second generally cylindrical elongate housing slidably positioned in said first cavity thereby forming a first expansible chamber in said first housing, and having a second generally cylindrical elongate cavity therein and at least one opening therein;

first propellant means in said first expansible chamber for selectively ejecting said second housing from said first cavity;

an explosive ordnance device slidably positioned in said second cavity thereby forming a second expansible chamber in said second housing, and having a main explosive charge,

second propellant means adjacent said second expansible chamber for selectively ejecting said explosive ordnance device from said second cavity, and

fuse means for activating said second propellant means and simultaneously therewith starting a delayed activation of said main explosive charge; and

meansfor actuating said fuse means in response to a first predetermined axial displacement of said second housing With respect to said first housing.

2. The ordnance apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for actuating said fuse means comprises:

a 'lever extending through an opening in said second housing and having one end thereof pivotally secured to said explosive ordnance device and resiliently urged radially outward therefrom and the other end thereof bearing against said first housing,

whereby said lever is restrained from radial movement about its pivot point, and actuation of said fuse means is thereby prevented, until said lever clears said first housing.

3. The ordnance apparatus of claim 1 wherein said fuse means is initially unarmed and said apparatus further comprises:

means for arming said fuse means in response to a second predetermined axial displacement of said second housing with respect to said first housing less than said first predetermined displacement.

4. The ordnance apparatus of claim 3 wherein said armll'lg IlleaIlS COmprlSeSI a safety pin slidably positioned in said fuse means and protruding therefrom and a lanyard extending through an opening in said second housing and having one end thereof secured to said safety pin and the other end thereof secured to said first housing.

5. Ordnance apparatus comprising:

a first housing having a first generally cylindrical elongate cavity with one open end and one closed end; an internally disposed radially extending annular ange on said first housing in said cavity near said closed end thereof,

a second generally cylindrical elongate housing slidably positioned in said first cavity and `bearing against said internal flange thereby forming a first expansible chamber in said first housing, and having a second generally cylindrical elongate cavity therein and a plurality of openings therein;

a plurality of externally disposed radially extending annular flanges axially displaced along said second housing and having outside dimensions closely approximating the inside dimensions of said first cavity in said first housing;

first propellant means in said first expansible chamber for selectively ejecting said second housing from said first cavity;

an explosive ordnance device slidably positioned in said second cavity thereby forming a second expansible chamber in said second housing, and having a main explosive charge,

second propellant means adjacent said second expansible chamber for selectively ejecting said explosive ordnance device from said second cavity, and

`fuse `means for activating said second propellant means and simultaneously therewith starting a delayed activation of said main explosive charge;

means for actuating said fuse means in response to a first predetermined axial displacement of said second housing with respect to said first housing including a firing lever extending through a first opening in said second housing and having one end thereof pivotally secured to said explosive ordnance device and resiliently urged radially outward therefrom and the other end thereof bearing against said first housing,

whereby said lever is restrained from radial movement about its pivot point, and actuation of said fuse means is thereby prevented, until said lever clears said first housing; and

means for arming said fuse means in response to a second predetermined axial displacement of said second housing with respect to said first housing less than said first predetermined displacement including a safety pin slidably positioned in said fuse means and protruding therefrom and a lanyard extending through a second opening in said second housing and having one end thereof secured to said safety pin and the other end thereof secured to said first housing.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,416,545 5/1922 Brond-by 102-652 3,267,810 8/1966 Lancaster 89l.8l6 3,307,283 3/1967 Cox 42-1 SAMUEL W. ENGLE, Primary Examiner. 

